Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 161

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 161. Cannibalism (1)

Jegal Dan’s throat suddenly swelled up as he was checking the documents.

Suppressing the rising nausea, he picked up a large porcelain bowl he had placed beside him.

“Uweeek!”

What he vomited was a large amount of blood.

The blood that gushed out without warning looked sticky. Its rippling appearance was like looking at thick muddy water.

After catching his breath for a moment, he covered the bowl with a lid.

Though it was a familiar motion, his complexion was pale and his hands trembled. Like a healthy person had instantly become a patient, his anxious appearance seemed to darken even the air.

‘It’s gotten worse.’

There was no time to indulge in sentiment.

But why? This time’s blood vomiting felt somehow different.

The feeling that the sword placed on his shoulder had somehow drawn closer to his throat. Even Jegal Dan, renowned for his composure, felt his spine grow cold.

‘Did I make a mistake?’

Like a mischievous child poking at bugs with a stick, anxiety that had grown wild tormented his frightened heart.

Jegal Dan had to acknowledge it. That he was very tired.

He had vowed never to lose his composure whether his whole body was tortured or his fingernails were pulled out, and he prided himself on having devoted more effort to mental cultivation than anyone.

Yet at this moment, he couldn’t maintain his composure.

No, perhaps he had only pretended to be composed for a very long time.

‘Am I also just a weak human?’

Looking out the window, the weather was poor.

The wind cast by the cloudy sky was like a lyrical song. His heart wavered at the lament he had never heard anywhere.

‘I’m sorry, Lady.’

The image of his completely withered wife came to mind.

She was probably even more withered now.

Just imagining his companion’s miserable state made his entire upper cheek throb. As if a swarm of insects were rushing in, something was moving roughly toward his eyeballs.

Jegal Dan put a stop to that violent movement.

If he couldn’t block it, he would collapse. Both his mind and body.

After calming his mind with deep breathing for a while, he picked up his brush again.

However, he couldn’t easily move his hand. There were so many documents to organize.

Before collapsing, he recalled his conversation with his wife.

‘No matter what happens, don’t mind it. What’s important is the family.’

‘Lady.’

‘Sacrificing the small for the great is not proper. But sometimes, there are times when improper things must be done.’

‘….’

‘Don’t forget. You are the head of the great Jegal Clan.’

The conversation with his wife was like a single drop of water falling into a full glass.

Just one drop of water spilled out everything he had endured until now.

Various emotions poured from Jegal Dan’s eyes with warm screams. The tears scratched at his throat, pleading to share the unbearable burden, but Jegal Dan couldn’t allow even that.

His stifled weeping cast deep shadows on the darkened air.

The tears that fell on the documents became round grayish-white past that scolded him.

‘Endure it. Aren’t there many others going through more painful moments than me?’

His appearance of pressing his sleeves against his eyes was far from the nobility of the Jegal Clan that had created great legends in Hubei. And Jegal Dan forcibly suppressed the instinct to ignore the weight of such invisible illusions.

After composing his emotions for a long while, Jegal Dan removed his sleeves from his eyes.

The wet sleeves became chains weighing a thousand pounds, binding his body to the floor.

How long had he been lifting his heavy arms and signing documents again?

“Family Head.”

It was a familiar voice.

“Come in.”

Shortly after, the door opened and a young man entered.

Average height with an average build. But his eyes alone reminded one of ice pillars harder than steel.

It was Jegal Chung Yang, Jegal Dan’s eldest son and the Grand Young Master of the Jegal Clan.

Jegal Dan, keeping his gaze fixed on the documents, asked curtly.

“What is it?”

“Family Head. The three outer halls have activated the Eight Formation Impenetrable Array throughout the entire outer courtyard.”

“…?!”

“Is there some kind of trouble?”

Jegal Dan inwardly gritted his teeth.

‘Are they already trying to corner me?’

Just a little, just a little more waiting and a way out would open.

But somehow they knew and blocked all sides before the breathing hole could open.

Jegal Dan immediately took out a book from the study.

When he opened the book, three black envelopes were inserted inside.

Taking out the envelopes, he handed them to Jegal Chung Yang and said.

“Take these and go to the Nae Won Gi Hak Lim.”

Though he didn’t show it, Jegal Chung Yang was inwardly flustered.

“You mean Gi Hak Lim?”

“Show those envelopes to the Gi Hak Lim master and he’ll understand. You must take Chung Ho and Rin Yi with you.”

“…Family Head?”

“And this.”

He also took out the red envelope he always carried and pressed it into his hand.

“Open it after you leave Gi Hak Lim. It contains what you three must do.”

“Family Head, what’s happening?”

Though Jegal Chung Yang usually wouldn’t ask such questions, he had no choice but to ask now.

He had never seen his father this urgent. He hadn’t been like this even when Mother collapsed.

“There’s no time to explain. Hurry and take your younger brothers to Gi Hak Lim.”

“Rin Yi is in his room, but Chung Ho isn’t here.”

Jegal Dan’s eyes wavered.

“Where did he go?”

“He went out briefly.”

“Then take Rin Yi first. I’ll send Chung Ho as soon as he returns.”

A light of determination appeared on the hesitating Jegal Chung Yang’s face.

“Father.”

“Hurry and go.”

“Is it because of Uncle?”

He knew well that the family wasn’t the same as before.

Actually, Jegal Dan had subtly informed him about that part. But worried he might get hurt by interfering unnecessarily, he hadn’t told him the detailed circumstances.

“There’s no time. Hurry and go!”

Undeniable anxiety arose on Jegal Dan’s face.

“…I understand.”

Finally bowing his head, Jegal Chung Yang left the Family Head’s Office.

Jegal Dan looked into empty air and spoke.

“Hak Yeong.”

Swoosh.

A shadow revealed itself to Jegal Dan’s right.

“Yes, Family Head.”

“Issue a level four emergency to all members of the Guard Unit.”

“Shall we form ranks at the position you mentioned before?”

“That’s right. And on the way, ask them to assign some skilled guards from the Small Guard Unit to the children.”

“I receive your command.”

Hak Yeong disappeared as suddenly as he had appeared.

Jegal Dan unconsciously sank into his seat.

Though his breathing became rough and his emotions ran wild, he did not forget what he had to do.

“Are you outside?”

“Yes, Family Head!”

“Call Moon Yi! Quickly!”

“Yes!”

* * *

The Jegal Clan was much more expansive than any other prestigious martial family.

It wasn’t because they were particularly wealthy, nor because their ancestors had greedily seized land or tried to expand their territory.

The Jegal Clan was one of several sacred sites representing Central Plains Confucianism. Naturally, those seeking learning and those who had accumulated outstanding knowledge in various fields were bound to gather there.

From the time they first established themselves at the foot of Yongjoong Mountain, they had formed a massive force due to countless scholars from various schools, and after the Jegal family declared they would revere both literature and martial arts, vast walls were erected.

The Jegal Clan, which had continued this history, might not argue for first place among the Six Families as a martial house, but in terms of the number of members, they undoubtedly claimed the top position.

Of course, most of them were scholars, and accordingly, many did not know martial arts.

Perhaps because of this?

On the surface, the Jegal Clan appeared more open than any other family. The receptive attitude of accepting anyone who wished to discuss the principles of learning emanated from the main gate itself.

“This is the first time I’ve seen it like this.”

Neung Hyeong genuinely admired the exterior of the Jegal Clan.

“It looks lax, but it’s never truly lax. Quite impressive indeed.”

Having learned all kinds of martial arts at Seongheolgung and possessing insight into not only mechanism formations but also mystical arts, he read the traces of mechanisms installed beyond the walls of the Jegal Clan, which appeared free-spirited on the surface.

Jegal Chung Ho smacked his lips and said.

“Is that so.”

“But…”

Neung Hyeong’s face, which had been full of admiration, gradually became serious.

“There’s a strange smell.”

“Pardon?”

Neung Hyeong looked at Moyong Bi.

“What do you think?”

“It’s resonating.”

Strength entered Moyong Bi’s hand gripping the spear.

“Very quietly, but definitely.”

Ziiing.

The Brain Gate Heart Technique raised its head.

Being so vast, the inner courtyard of the Jegal Clan would be quite far from here.

There was probably someone in the inner courtyard who had learned demonic arts. Judging by the degree of the Brain Gate Heart Technique’s resonance, there was a high possibility they had cultivated half-baked demonic arts like those learned by Hong Jun Ak or Bang Hyo.

‘Half-baked.’

Though he called it half-baked because it was difficult to explain, even that description felt ambiguous now.

Moyong Bi frowned and asked.

“Wasn’t there anything like that back then?”

“What?”

“The half-baked ones.”

“…Hmm.”

Neung Hyeong stroked his chin. From his quite serious attitude, it seemed he too had been thinking about this for a long time.

“There weren’t no attempts. But they weren’t actively pursued. At least not that I know of.”

“What do you mean ‘not that you know of’?”

“I mean other humans besides me might have pushed it forward. You know?”

He must be referring to the elders.

Those whom even he, the Palace Master, could not treat carelessly, could not afford to treat carelessly.

Moyong Bi thought.

‘It’s definitely a troublesome problem.’

Though he didn’t know how many there were, in the case of the female demon caught at Golden Crane Pavilion, even the Brain Gate Heart Technique couldn’t detect her.

If her level had been high, she would have been caught instead. The stronger the power, the more the Brain Gate Heart Technique’s sensitivity would shine.

Whatever the case, the problem was that even once, someone had been able to escape the net cast by the Brain Gate Heart Technique.

‘Just as one experience can change everything, the fact that such demonic arts appeared once suggests that someday even high-level demonic arts will be able to completely hide the power of reverse heaven.’

Just like how after he came into the world, Neung Hyeong had also returned to the future twenty years later.

Watching Moyong Bi lost in solitary contemplation, Neung Hyeong asked casually.

“Though it doesn’t suit the situation, there’s something I want to ask.”

“What?”

“Why are you getting involved in this mess?”

Though it was something they had discussed before, Moyong Bi did not open his mouth easily.

As if trying to brush away dust accumulated on a very old stone monument, Neung Hyeong spoke seriously.

“Just as this Jegal brat said, you’re not a particularly righteous fellow. Naturally, you’re no chivalrous hero either. You’d risk your life ten times over for your children, but you’re not soft-hearted enough to come all this way and offer unwanted help just because you formed a connection once.”

Jegal Chung Ho also looked at Moyong Bi with a serious expression.

“You said this. That the Mu Dang Faction and Moyong Family are entangled in resentment, and if the Jegal falls, Mu Dang’s counterattack will begin, so you must prevent the Jegal from falling before that happens. You said it would kill two birds with one stone since you could also eliminate demons, and it would be even better since you might receive help from the Jegal Clan in the future.”

“You remember well.”

“Let me be clear, that’s not behavior befitting you.”

“What do you claim to know about me?”

“I know enough. At least enough to know what kind of choice you’d make in moments like this.”

“In your view, what choice should I make to be normal?”

“It’s obvious.”

Neung Hyeong pointed west with his hand.

“Whether the Jegal falls or not, shouldn’t you head straight to Moodang Mountain to be normal?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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